Related Experiment Videos
Persistent rhinosinusitis in children after endoscopic sinus surgery
K H Chan1, C P Winslow, M J Abzug
1Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Denver 80218, USA.
Insights
Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in young children with refractory rhinosinusitis often leads to persistent disease and requires further intervention. Careful consideration of ESS is recommended for this age group.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Rhinosinusitis Research
Background:
- Limited data exists on the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in pediatric patients with refractory rhinosinusitis.
- Children with persistent rhinosinusitis despite prior ESS present a unique clinical challenge.
Observation:
- A cohort of 14 children with refractory rhinosinusitis, who had previously undergone ESS, were analyzed.
- These children underwent their first ESS at a mean age of 4.6 years, with 10 of 14 operated on before 4.8 years.
- Osteomeatal scarring was identified as a significant surgical complication.
Findings:
- Children in this cohort required subsequent surgical intervention at a significantly higher rate (50%) compared to the general clinic population (9%).
- Persistent disease and significant morbidity were observed following ESS in young children.
- Osteomeatal scarring presented as the most challenging complication.
Implications:
- Endoscopic sinus surgery in very young children with refractory rhinosinusitis is associated with a high rate of persistent disease and complications.
- While medical management can address some post-ESS chronic rhinosinusitis, judicious use of ESS, particularly in younger children, is advised.
- Further research is needed to optimize surgical timing and techniques for pediatric rhinosinusitis.
Abstract:
The efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in children is insufficiently addressed in the medical literature. We report a cohort of 14 children (mean age 7.7 years, median age 5.1 years) seen at our multidisciplinary clinic for refractory rhinosinusitis during a 30-month period who continued to have rhinosinusitis despite previous ESS. Prior ESS procedures were performed by 11 surgeons in 3 states. The first ESS was performed when the children were a mean age of 4.6 years, and in 10 of 14, it was performed when they were younger than 4.8 years. This cohort required a disproportionately high rate of subsequent surgical intervention, 50%, versus a 9% surgical rate in the remaining clinic population (P = 0.0002). Osteomeatal scarring was the single most difficult surgical complication. Significant morbidity, in the form of persistent disease, is encountered after ESS in young children. Although chronic rhinosinusitis after ESS, to a certain degree, can still be managed by medical therapy, judicial use of ESS, especially in the very young, is recommended.